Reuters: North Korea says can test-launch ICBM at any time

a reply to: GodEmperor

Well China certainly doesn't want North Korea to collapse, since they don't particularly want Pro-US states on their border.

China equally has no interest in South Korea being destroyed. They want Japan put down a peg, but they don't benefit much from their destruction either.

a reply to: seagull

Not according to current policy.

PD-59 implemented by Jimmy Carter is still in effect. It's idea is that nuclear weapons can be used in a limited capacity, while avoiding a total loss.

This directive gives the president extreme flexibility in conducting nuclear attacks.

a reply to: GodEmperor

You are very badly over estimating the relationship between China and North Korea...and underestimating the relationship between the United States and China.

China is not about to risk open war with the United States, nor is the United States going to go to war with China. Both have far more to lose than to gain.

They've exchanged blows once before in Korea...it didn't go well for either side.

Have you looked at the military forces of South Korea, and Japan lately? Small? Yes, but very well trained, and equipped. They are, as they say, top of the line. North Korea hasn't got the reach to defeat Japan, attack it, sure, but what would be the point of attacking an opponent who can reach out and touch you, too--only harder.

As for his treatment of his people? That's a point to your argument, however, that doesn't necessarily equate to attacking the US with ICBM's... One is maintaining his power in country, however horrific the methods employed...the other is actively courting suicide.

a reply to: Ohanka

Exactly. I think, at worst, they play peacemaker, should the worst come to pass. Another war, or continuation of the old one, on the Korean Peninsula.

Nobody in the area wants the DPRK's leadership ousted since that would be hugely destabilising for the region. The refugee crisis created by it would cripple South Korea's economy. Kim Loyalists would wage guerrilla war against whatever government was established afterwards. Rogue Generals would have access to huge amounts of armaments and the nuclear & chemical weapons could literally fall into anyone's hands.

From a pragmatic standpoint it's far better for the current Leadership to remain. Because all of the above sounds horrible.

a reply to: seagull

Yet the more advanced North Korea’s nuclear arsenal becomes, the tougher it will be to dismantle peacefully. Its slow but steady progress on the nuclear front is something that the U.S. and the rest of the world has been unable to stop.

“Our policy right along,” Defense Secretary William Perry told TIME in his flying stateroom over the Atlantic 22 years ago, “has been oriented to try to keep North Korea from getting a significant nuclear-weapon capability.” That effort has failed.

In fact, in 2006, Perry and Ashton Carter—the current defense secretary—argued that the U.S. should attack a North Korean missile before it could be launched. The U.S. didn’t attack, and the missile test failed. Somewhere down the road, Americans might not be so lucky.

time.com...

It seems your concerns are for naught. There is continued provocation by the US each time NK makes a breakthrough in nuclear weapons systems.

a reply to: Ohanka

Indeed those do sound horrible, don't they?

The only way it can change, without said horrible consequences, is gradually...over the span of years. Reuniting families might be the place to start, or rather continue, since I believe there has been some work in that direction in recent years...

a reply to: GodEmperor

What concerns? I don't have any. You are the one who is saying the sky is falling, not I.

Lil kim sure thinks highly of himself doesn`t he, they don`t need a nuclear weapons program for deterrence nobody wants to invade his pissant assbackwards 3rd world shlthole of a country and that`s what really makes him mad.

a reply to: GodEmperor

Lol, Supreme Headquarters. Lil Kims regime cracks me up. It's no doubt, even with sanctions that, Russia still sends them oil and supplies on rail.

Well, one thing is for sure, they will test a nuclear weapon using an ICBM. The radioactive fallout will travel generally eastward, and possibly lead to radioactive contamination of the US.

That's a best case scenario if we do nothing.

a reply to: GodEmperor

I think Kim is the most dangerous dictator in the world. He's like a little kid playing with fire. I think eventually he's going to get burned either by his own military or his neighbors. It can't come soon enough.

a reply to: WeRpeons

Na 'America' are the ones we have to watch, besides, they are the only ones to ever actually use nukes on people.... TWICE!

a reply to: WeRpeons

You are, of course, assuming that he is the one calling the shots in NoKo...

No indications he's not, but it's a consideration none the less.

a reply to: pr0ph3t

You do have a real grasp of history there...

a reply to: GodEmperor

Erm, No?

Almost a dozen countries tested nuclear weapons for decades with no adverse affects of that kind. hundreds of above ground detonations, a fair few space detonations and many many more underground ones.

Nuclear contamination from nuclear weapons testing is essentially a none-issue, unless you are intentionally trying to contaminate things on purpose.

North Korea complies with nuclear testing regulations, IE, underground detonations only. Until the fabled comprehensive test ban treaty comes into force anyway.

A missile test is just testing to see if the missile works. It does not need a warhead.

Oh how you people underestimate little kimmy , he is after all the son of this man .

Even before his birth, the future leader of North Korea was triggering miracles. Official biographers say his birth in a cabin on the slopes of Baekdu Mountain in February 1942 was foretold by a swallow and heralded by a double rainbow. When he was born, a new star appeared in the night sky. * The first time he picked up a golf club, in 1994, Kim reportedly shot a 38-under par round on North Korea's only golf course, including 11 holes-in-one. He then decided to retire from the sport for ever. * Kim has the ability to alter the weather simply through the power of thought. * The fledgling leader was a genius as an infant, with official North Korean biographies stating that he had learned to walk at just 3 weeks and was talking at 8 weeks. * As a junior high school pupil in Pyongyang, he corrected and chastised his teachers for their incorrect interpretations of history. Related Articles North Korea's Hotel of Doom 10 Oct 2011 Analysis: North Korea's bizarre personality cult 31 Jan 2011 N Korea prepares for 'Dear Leader' tribute 31 Jan 2011 Keeping it in the family 31 Jan 2011 * Kim wrote six full operas in two years, "all of which are better than any in the history of music," according to his official biography. * He designed the Tower of the Juche Idea, a 170-metre tower in the east bank of the River Taedong in central Pyongyang that is topped by a glowing red flame. * Kim's official biography also claims that he wrote 1,500 books during his time at Kim Sung Il University, from where he graduated in 1964. * According to the Korea Central News Agency, Kim is an expert on all aspects of the film industry and "improved the scripts and guided the production" of the movie "Diary of a Girl Student." His favourite movies are reportedly "Friday the 13th," "Rambo" and anything starring Elizabeth Taylor. * Kim reportedly employs a servant to inspect every grain of rice that is served to him. Any with the most minor of flaws is discarded.

Ignore lil kimmy at your peril .

a reply to: GodEmperor

thanks to Clinton helping the Kimmy dynasty obtain nuclear weapons

Whoa, this is not true. Under Bill Clinton, North Korea which greatly reduced its threat: "the agreement calls for North Korea to freeze and eventually eliminate its nuclear facilities". Timeline

After Bush 43's Axis of Evil speech in Jan 2002, hardliners pushing against NK, and what would be his administration's seeming to put NK on the back burner as it prepared for war with Iraq....

Following reports that the U.S. nuclear posture review discusses the use of nuclear weapons against North Korea, Pyongyang's state-run press organ announces that, if the United States "tries to use nuclear weapons" against North Korea, it will be compelled to "examine all the agreements" reached with the United States. The report says that, "if the U.S. inflicts nuclear holocaust upon [North Korea], the former's mainland will not be safe either."

Bill Clinton put NK's nuclear genie back into the bottle and corked it, Bush 43 allowed the genie to come out, complete with missile testing. Obama administration is another story, leaving NK feeling isolated with even China not happy with NK.

originally posted by: GodEmperor
a reply to: introvert

Well, they did hack Sony, a private organization. That's on par with Russians hacking the DNC, a private organization.

What's the difference? Except that NK has promised to 'destroy America'.

Sony isn't owned by the Clinton's

a reply to: seagull

There's that much vitriol on this site, that I can't tell if you're being serious or not..